How to Balance Work and Family
Janice: OK, so, balancing your work life and your family life can be pretty tricky. Um, I would definitely recommend having a schedule and writing everything down.
Janice: That’s the only way that I can sometimes know where I am, what I’m supposed to be doing, um, and also what’s coming up next.
Janice: Um, also, definitely delegate. So, don’t try and take it all on by yourself. Use your support team, um, use- hopefully you have a- a partner who can help you out,
Janice: uh, with a bit of cooking or cleaning, uh, because having children and having to work is- is pretty challenging.
Janice: Um, and in saying that, uh, I think you should also make sure that you schedule in some ‘me time‘. And that’s really important, otherwise you will possibly go mad.
Vocabulary:
balancing – giving equal amounts of time, energy, or attention to two or more different activities, “The young mother is balancing a full-time job and university studies.”
tricky – difficult to deal with or do, requiring careful skill, thought, or patience, “Finding the right apartment in a crowded city can be very tricky.”
schedule – a plan of things that will happen or work that must be done at specific times, “My busy work schedule does not leave much time for hobbies.”
supposed to be – (idiom) expected to do something or be in a certain place according to a rule, plan, or arrangement, “We are supposed to be at the airport two hours before our flight.”
coming up – (phrasal verb) happening or arriving very soon, “I need to study hard because my final exams are coming up next week.”
delegate – to give a part of your work, duties, or responsibilities to other people, “A good manager knows how to delegate tasks to their team members.”
take it all on – (idiom/phrasal verb) to accept full responsibility for a large amount of work, trouble, or stress by yourself, “You will get exhausted if you try to take it all on without asking for help.”
support team – a group of people (such as friends, family, or coworkers) who are available to help, protect, and encourage you, “When I started my new business, my family was my main support team.”
challenging – difficult in a way that tests your abilities, effort, or patience, “Learning how to drive a car can be highly challenging for beginners.”
in saying that – (idiom) a phrase used to introduce a statement that adds contrast or changes what you just said; however, “The weather is very cold today; in saying that, the sun is still shining beautifully.”
schedule in – (phrasal verb) to make or arrange a specific time for an event or activity in your diary or calendar, “I need to schedule in a doctor’s appointment for next Thursday morning.”
me time – (idiom/informal) time that you spend relaxing by yourself doing things you enjoy, away from work, chores, and family duties, “Reading a book in a quiet café is my favorite way to get some me time.”
otherwise – used to show what the bad or negative result will be if you do not do a specific action; if not, “You must wear a warm coat, otherwise you will catch a cold outside.”
go mad – (idiom) to become mentally ill, extremely angry, or completely overwhelmed by stress and frustration, “If I have to listen to that loud barking dog all night, I am going to go mad.”